Confusion over a homeschool graduate’s transcripts nearly prevented her from signing up for a South Carolina program she needed to advance her career.

Hannah Pollock, 21, attempted to register with SC Endeavors, a state program that provides training for childcare workers and recognizes their qualifications on a registry.

Childcare workers use the program for continual improvement and advancement opportunities, so it was a potential career setback for Hannah when her application was initially rejected.

Program administrators said her high school records fell short of the required standards for full access. (They didn’t.) The resulting impasse over her homeschool records put Hannah and her employers in a precarious position.

“I was kind of stalled,” she recalled.

Acquiring Skills

Hannah finished high school in 2020, the seventh of nine children to graduate from her family’s homeschool program in Washington state. Between at-home chores and babysitting jobs she landed from an early age, Hannah soon developed an interest in professional childcare.

“I’d always been around kids,” she explained. “And I enjoyed the freedom and flexibility to help mom around the house.”

After high school, Hannah was retained by a family at her church as a full-time nanny. When her married sister moved to South Carolina in the summer of 2022, Hannah joined her sibling’s household in search of new opportunities.

“I was ready for a big adventure,” Hannah said.

No Way Forward

A private Christian school hired Hannah to work in their after-school kindergarten program and as a substitute teacher for their daytime preschool. School administrators asked Hannah to take several hours of training offered through the SC Endeavors program, which is operated by the state Department of Social Services (DSS).

The training is part of DSS requirements for childcare workers; without it Hannah may have been prevented from working as a substitute teacher.

Hannah received approval for the training, but she encountered a roadblock in qualifying for another important aspect of SC Endeavors—its registry and professional advancement program. This online database documents the qualifications of childcare workers and lets employers know which jobs they are qualified for in the state of South Carolina.

Hannah said that, after applying to SC Endeavors, she soon found herself involved in a confusing exchange of emails from a DSS official wanting to know why her school records didn’t conform to the department’s understanding of Washington law.

The official said the Washington State Board of Education required public school districts to keep student transcripts on file for 100 years. Based on the incorrect assumption that this mandate applied to homeschooled students, officials asked Hannah to submit documents directly from the public school archive, including a high school diploma marked with a “state seal.”

Excessive Demands

Hannah contacted her mother, Susan Pollock, for help. Susan provided fresh copies of Hannah’s transcript and a copy of a diploma she had awarded to her daughter in accordance with state law.

Susan added that she was taken aback by South Carolina officials’ excessive demands, considering that her older children had easily gained access to higher education and job opportunities based on the strength of their homeschool records.

“I have a son who’s a nurse, one who’s a banker, and another who does research for a university,” Susan said. “All these years, and we’ve never had an issue like this.”

Hannah forwarded these latest documents to officials at SC Endeavors, but still encountered objections. At that point the Pollocks, who are longtime HSLDA members, decided to contact us for assistance.

Explaining the Law

HSLDA Senior Counsel Will Estrada reached out to officials at SC Endeavors on behalf of Hannah. He explained that, although Washington homeschool families must file a declaration of intent with their local public school superintendent every year, the law requires no other records be submitted.

In other words, Estrada explained that Hannah’s homeschool records complied fully with Washington law. Very soon after hearing from him, officials contacted Hannah to say she was approved to register with the online program.

“I now have a professional profile on SC Endeavors,” Hannah said.

She’s already working toward advancing in her current workplace. She hopes to earn a leadership position that allows her to help direct the after-school kindergarten.

“The way I approach life is that, wherever you are, be all there,” she said. “My work has been blessed.”

Hannah’s mother added that she appreciated the advocacy Hannah received when she needed it.

“I was really thankful for how quickly HSLDA responded and how quickly they got things straightened out,” Susan said.